Circuit-interrupting apparatus.



'H. A. STEEN.' ClRCUH lNTERRUPUNG APPARAT US- APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1914.

PatentedSept. 24, 1918..

2 SHEETSSHEET 1'.

H. A. STEEN.

cmcun INTERRUPTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1914.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HALFDAN A. STEEN,,OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGN OR TO ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

'1'0 aw-w'nomlit may concern:

Be it known that I, Hanroan A. Srnnn, a subject of the King of Norway, residing at Milwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and State of isconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Circuit- Interrupting 'Ap aratus, of which the fol: lowing. IS a speci cation.

This invention relates in general to apparatus for interrupting electrical circuits, and has particular relation to such apparatus of the type in which a magnetic field is utilized for extinguishingor suppressing the are formed on the separation of the contact points.

It is-a'n 0 ject of thisinvent-ion to provide an improved circuit-breaking apparatus ca pable of quickly and'etliciently rupturing the rc formed on the separation of the contacts.

It is -a provide am. improved circuit-breaking apparatus wherein a shifting magnetic field is made use of in extinguishing the are formed .between the fixed and movable contacts of the apparatus.

It is a further objectof this invention to provide a circuit-breaking apparatus embod ing means for.estahlisliing an angularly shi ting or rotating magnetic field about the points of separation of the contacts of the apparatus and means for controlling the electrical circuits' necessary to produce such magnetic field.

These and other objects are attained by this invention, the .various novel features of which will ap war from the description and drawings, disc osing one embodiment of such invention, and will he particylarly pointed out in the claims.

a In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is'a diagrammatic view of a system comprising a three pole circuit-break in apparatus embodying this invention.

*igr2is a vertical sectional view of an incloscd circuit-breaking apparatus provided ,with an arc extinguishing means embodying "this invention Fig. 3-is a sectional view, looking toward Specification of Letters Patent.

tu'rther object of this invention to,

CIRCUIT-INTEBRUPTING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 24, 1:115.

Application filed Inly 25, 1814. Serial No. 858,167.

the bottom of the inclosing receptacle, on the plane of the line 33 of Fi 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view Slowing the relative arrangement of a plurality of elec tromagnets for producing a shifting magnetic fielcLand the fixed and movable contacts of the circuit-breaking apparatus, shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

In the embodiment of the invention dis closed in the drawings, an alternating current polyphasc generator 5 is connected to a translating device 6, here shown as, a mo tor, through a polyphase transmission line 7, 8, 9. A circuit-breaking apparatus 12 is inserted in the supply circuit of the translating device 6. This circuit-breaking apparatus is shown as comprising a plurality of fixed contacts 13, 14, 15, and a plurality of movable contacts 16, 17, 18, adapted tohe moved into and out of engagement with the fixed contacts 13, 1-1, 15, respectively. The fixed contacts 13, ll. 15, are preferably mounted on a supporting member 19, mounted adjacent to, but separated from, the bottom of an oil-containing receptacle 31.

A part 22 may constitute a frame from which the oil receptacle 21 is suspended, or, where the oil receptacle is fixed in position, the part 22 may constitute a cover for the receptacle. A cup or cover 23 closes'a central opening in the part '22. Ilollow insulators 25, having a. portion extending through the cap or cover 23, are suitably mounted, as'by being held in place in a frame portion 24, supported by or integral with the part 22, Contacts Elli are secured in position on the insulator 25 or the frame 24, so as to be adjacent the opening of the insulator. The movable contacts 16, 17, 18, in the form of apparatus shown, are slidahle through the insulating bushings 25, engaging, at all times, the respective contacts 26,

and are movable into imd out. of engagement i all? form shown, consist of springcups, splitalong thesides at 31, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide resilient engaging portions... These fixed contacts are connected to the circuit of the motor or other translating. device,

through conneclors 32, (.lisposed near the bottom of lhe tank and passing upward along I the end of the tank, and through insulating "bushings similar to that shown at 28. i

The movable contacts 16, 17, 18, pass through the insulatin bushings'25, to the "outside of the receptac e where theyare connected for simultaneous operation by a' 39,-tends to break the theifixed contacts, being frame 35, being suitably'insulabed therefrom.

This member 3.35 is-operated' tp-move these ,contacts into and out of engagement with the fixed contacts 16, "17, 18, respectively, through a tog le 36, one'end-thereof being connected to tlie member and the other end to a fixed point at 37. -The lower link of the toggle abuts againsta stop 38,-when the member 35 is in such position that the mov-. able contacts are in engagement with the fixed-contacts, the knee of the toggle, at this time, being slightly outside the line.'joining thetwo end pivots ofthetoggle; A spring engagement with revented from so doing, when. in the position shown, by the the 'movable contacts out o engagement of the lower link with the-stop 38. The toggle" is operated through a rod 41, having an elongated slot -12 in which is disposed a pin 43 that passes through the knee of the toggle. The arm 41 is actuated by a lever 44 pivoted at 45 to a fixed point. A stop 46 is 1 *ovided for limiting such movement/of the lever 44 as causes theseparation of the movable contacts from the fixed contacts. I

Mounted on the supports 19 and equally spaced about the fixed contacts 13, 14, 15, are a plurality of electromagnets 51, 52, 53. These magnets are so disposed that their axes coincide at a point approximately in .the axis of the fixed and movable contacts, :and are supported in position in any suitable manner, being here shown as mounted on supports 54, 55, 56, respectively, which are secured to the supporting member 19, the clectromagncts being held in place on the supports by straps 57. The windings of the electromagnets 51, 52, 53. are connected across the three phases of an alternating current supply circuit 61, 62, 63, each mag" net being across a separate phase. The connections between the electromagnets and this supply circuit 61, 62, 63, may be through fl exiblc connectors, the conductors of the su pply circuit passing into the receptacle through insulators 64 mounted in the part 22 and being disposed adjacent the supports 19.

The supply circuit 61, 62, (33, is preferably connected to the circuit 7, 8, 9, at a point adjacent the translating. device to be contoggle so as to draw trolled, the connection being here shown as. made through a transformer 65. In order thatfleuergy may not be Wasted in the elecblfllllugl'leli windings-when no useful work is being done, a switch may be provided for making and breaking the supply circuit. 61,

crank 73, the same being in turn actuated by the lever 44, through the connecting rod 74.

.spindle'72 adapted to beactuated by a bell The fixed .contacts 76 with which the movable-contact portions of theswitch 70 engage, may be somewhat elongated so as-to provide for some movement of the movable contact portions while the same remain in engagement with the fixed contacts. In-

stead of providing elongated fixed cont-acts,

provision for maintaining contactbetween.

the fixed and movable Contact poi'tioiislof this switch may be made by inserting a. spring connection between the bell-crank 73 and the operating rod 72, 01 between-two parts of the operating rod 72,- or either-the fixed or the movable contacts may be of the.

spring type; The auxiliary switch i0 may be disposed in' the same receptacle as the main switch 12, or may be positioned outside this receptacle.

As shown in Fig. 1, the switch or circuitbreaker is in closed position.- To operate the same to open position, the lever 44 is moved in a clockwise direction, the first of the switch 70 to closed I osition, through the connecting rod 74, be 1 crank 73, and switchspindlc 72. When-the switch 70 is in closed position, the circuit of the electromagnets 51, 52, 53;iisestablishe d. It will be obvious that, with this arrangement of electromagnets, a rotating magnetic field is established in the space between the cores of the magnets and ad]acent the fixed and movable contnctsof the main switch. Continued movement of the lever 44 cause'sth e engagement of the left hand end of the slot 42 with the pin 43, which in thelclosed position of'the switch is locatedbeyond the center line of the toggle. As 'soon'as this pin 43 is a sullicient distance beyond the onter' line to permit the spring'39 to act, the-'leveru44 comes a ainst the stop 46, no f th i-z-i ment' o the lever 44 being reCessarytn accomplish the actual separation Of fih eon tacts and the pin 43 merely moving 'ftomthe left hand en'd-of the slot 42 to the rightiiliand end thereof. Snch continued inotion oi f'the lever M as is necessary to move the"pin' 43 1'56" part of such movement causing the actuation,

beyond the center line of the toggle and still maintain the movable contacts of the switch 70 in engagement with the ,fixed contacts thereof is accommodated by the elongated contacts 76.

As the movable contacts separate from the fixed contacts, an arc is drawn. Through the action of the separate magnets carrying out'of phase currents, a rotating magnetic field is established about the are. The action of this field is similar to that of a rotating magnetic field established by the primary of aninduction motor, which causes the rotation of the conductors of the secondary member. Hence, the outer portions of the arc are rotated at a high velocity, and, are drawn out so as to assume an approximatelyspherical outline, this'action not only lengthening the filamentary ortion's'of-the ar'c butflalso spreading the symeover-fa" greater area, so

that the arc chines into intimate contact with a greater body of, fluid. The are is so drawn and reduced" in intensity, through being lengthened isposed through a larger section of oil, and having-the surface thereof exposed-to insulating, fluid g'i-eatl increased, thereby increasing the cooling e feet on the arc,'that it is soon'ruptured.

Again, the cooling efi'ect is further-heightened by theaction oithe rotating are in no ting the oil in motion and drawing it a orig a circular path soaslto bring'more oil into contactwith' the are and to. further distribute the energto'be dissipated. All of these actions contribute to a very quick and efiicient rupture of the are;

It will be obvious that, as soon as the are is broken, the circuit of the polypliase magnets 51, 52, 53 is also broken, the sinne being supplied through the contacts 13, 14, 1?) and the arcs formed at such contacts. It will thus be apparent that there is no energy expended in the windings of the electromagnets atany time other than when it is desired to employ the same for are rupturing purposes.

As an aid in rupturing the arc, the oil may be given a preliminary movement in a circular or other direction, by mechanical means, as by rotating either the oil-recep- [axle or mechanical elements within such receptacle.

While the embodiment of the invention shown comprises a polyplinsc magnet for establishing a rotating field, it will be ap parent that a single phase magnet may be used with mechanical or electrical means for rotating or shifting the field established.

\Vhilc the main switch is described as controlling an alternating: current circuit, it will be obvious that the invention is equally applicable to apparatus for interrupting direct current circuils. in which case the shifting magnelic lield about the contacts would be established from a suitable alternating .mugnetic means-for establishing anang current source or from direct current source through a rectifier.

. It will be a parent that means other than those shown or making and breaking the circuit of the electromagnets may be used, as for instance, the switch may be operated to closed position by electromagnetic means which are" rendered efiectivc, prior to actuation of the main movable contacts 16, 17, 18. Again, when the movable con tacts 16,117, '18 are operated by electromagnetic means, a relaymay be used for operatin the switch 70, which relay is rendered e ective a short time prior to the operation of the maincontacts.

It should be understood that it is not (le field about said contact.

3.,In a circuit-breaking apparatus, relatively movable contacts, and means for pro ducing a plurality of de-phased magnetic fluxes about said contacts.

4. In a circuit-breaking apparatus, rela -i tiely movable contacts, and means for establishing an an'gularly shifting magnetic field that cuts the path of separation of said contacts.

In a circnit breaking apparatus, rela-,

tively movable contacts, means for acconn plishing the separation of said eonl acts, 'andmeans for establishing a rotating magnetic field that tends to rotate. parts of an are drawn between said contacts on separation thereof.

(i. In acircuit-breaking apparatus, relatively movable contacts, and a plurality of H magnetic flux producmg-elemcnts disposed about said contacts and adjacent the line of cn gmgcment thereof, said elements being ca-- pablc of producing a rotating magnetic field about said contacts. 7. In a circuit-breaking apparatus, relatively movable contacts, means for acconi plishing the separation of said contacts, and means for establishing an angularly shifting magnetic field about said contacts, said laltcr means being rendered effective 'sc nirating means. I

8. In a circuit-breaking a and movable contacts, means i ing the separation of said eontacts,,el ectrolarly shiftingmagnetic field about saidioons,

paratus, fixed.

by Said or uwomplishplishing the separation of said contacts, and

means for establishing an angularlyshifting magnetic field about said contacts and ad acent the point of engagement thereof,-

said latter means being supplied withenergy from a portion of the circuit connected to the contact remote from the source of said circuit.

11. In a circuit-breaker for polyphase circuits, a plurality of fixed and movable contacts, means for actuating said. movable con-. tacts, magnetic blow-out means for each set of fixed and movable contacts comprising a plurality of electromagnets disposed about the contacts and adjacent tothe line of en.-

gageinent thereof, said electromagnets being connected across the several phases of said ircuit, and means for rendering said magn tic'blow-out means efiective an subsequently actuating said movable contacts.

12;,In a circuit-breaking apparatus, fixed and movable contacts, means for actuating said movable contact, means for establishing a rotating magnetic field about said contacts, switch means for rendering said latter means effective, and actuatingmechanism operative for actuating said switch means "to render said magnetic field efiective and for subsequently actuating mid movable contact to open position.

13. In a circuit-breaking apparatus, relatively movable cfintacts, means for accomplishing the separation of said contacts, means for establishing about the path of separation between said [contacts a rotating imagnetic field. for extinguishing an are drawn between said contacts on separation thereof, means operative to energize said establishing means, and unitary means for actuating said latter-means and'for subsequently actuating said-separating means.

14. In a circuit-'breakerfor polyphase circuits, a plurality of'fi xed and movable contacts, means for actuating said movable con tacts, and magnetic blow-out means for each set-of fixed and movable contacts comprising an electromagnetic device for establishirf g a rotating magnetic field about the path 0 s eparation of said-contacts, the energizing j circuit of said electromagnetic device being connected across a plurality of phases said polyphase c rcuit.

15. In a circuit-breaking apparatus, co-' operatlve relatively movable contacts, means operative to cause circuit-rupturing separa- 'tion of said contacts, and means operative to establish a rotating magnetic -i'icld about an are drawn betu n said contacts 'on separation thereof.

- 16. In a circuit-breaking apparatus, cooperative relative] y movable. contacts, means operative to cause circuit-rupturing separation ofsaid contacts, and means normally inoperative and operative on the separation of saidlcontacts to establish'a rotating mag -netic field about an are drawn between said contacts, saidlatter-means being' suplied with energy through the are formed etween said'contacts. I p

17. In a circuit-breaking ap aratus, relatively movable and engagea le contacts, means operative to cause circuit-rupturing separation of said contacts, and means operative only on actuation of said first means for establishinga rotating magnetic field about an are drawn .between said contacts on separation thereof, said establishin means being..sup'plied with energy throug the are formed between said contacts.

18. In a circuit-breaking apparatus, rela-. tivelymovable and engageablecontactaclectromagnetic means normally inoperative and 0 rative toestablish a rotating magnetic eldabout an arcdiawn between said contactsv on separationthereof, the energizing circuit of said electromagnetic means being supplied withenergy through the are formed between said contacts, and means operative to successively efl'ectively. energize said establishing means and cause circuitrupturing separation of said contacts.-

19. In a multiple circuit-breaker, a plurality of sets of relatively movable and engageable contacts, means for establishing a rotating polyphase magnetic field adjacent the path of separation of the contacts of each set, and in'strumentalitics operative to successively render said establishing means effective and cause separation of the contacts' of each set.

20. In a circuit-breaking apparatus, an oil-containing receptacle, relatively movable and engagea'le contacts mounted in operative position. in the normal oil-containing portion, of said receptacle, and -means thereof. v V 1 21.111 a c rcuit-breaking apparatus, an

oil-containing receptacle, relatively movable and engageable contacts mounted in opera- .tive. position in the normal oil-containing izs portion of said receptuc1e,-means normally In testimony whereof, the Isignature of liioperatiyq and effective to produce a rot-l1e inventor is affixed hereto in theprse nco' 10 tating magnetic field adjacent an az o formed of'two witnesses. V 6 .andjinstrurgentalities operative tosucces HALFDAN STEEN' sively rndr said firshhneans' efi'olzive to- Witnesses: produoethe desired mag etic field-gnd calise' W. H. Lmnnn, sgpax gtion oi said-comin s.- J. J. KANE. 

